Nissan is a leading Japanese automaker. Nissan acquired its automotive division through a merger with DAT motors (Datsun) in the early 1930s. The original shareholders weren’t too keen on the idea of automobiles in Japan and had their shares bought out. Nissan was a major vehicle producer for the United States Army during the Korean War. Nissan started a pageant competition in the 1960s called "Nissan Miss Fairladys." The name was chosen as a link to the Broadway play My Fair Lady.

Nissan's most reported problem on RepairPal is associated with failed crankshafts on some Nissan Altima models.